The bill amends the law regarding the filing process for independent candidates in Arkansas. It establishes that individuals wishing to run as independent candidates for various offices must submit their filings by 12:00 noon on the first day of May in the election year, replacing the previous requirement of filing during the party filing period. Additionally, candidates are now allowed to withdraw their notice of candidacy and file a new one for a different position, provided this is done by the same deadline.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the requirements for petitions submitted by independent candidates. It specifies that the petition must include designated spaces for the signature, printed name, date, and address of the qualified elector. Notably, a previous requirement for an affidavit regarding the collection of signatures has been repealed, simplifying the process for candidates. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the filing process for independent candidates in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
SB 349: 7-7-103(a), 7-7-103(b)